Having the most number of new coronavirus cases in Southeast Asia is already “worrisome” but for the Philippines to press for the revival of capital punishment during the pandemic is “embarrassing.”
And for Bishop Broderick Pabillo, apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila, what is “saddening” is the silence of most Filipinos despite all that is happening in the country.
“What is our attitude amid all these? Many are silent. Just let them be in government. What is important is we survive,” he said in his homily on Sunday, August 9.
“Are we going to remain silent? Why do we avoid speaking and acting? Are we afraid of being told by trolls? Afraid of being accused as rebels?” added the prelate.
“I hope we will be concern because we love our country,” he said, adding that it is during difficult times “that our love and concern for the country should come out.”
Bishop Pabillo said love of country is also love of God, adding that where there is love of country, God is there.
“Let us not be unmindful of what has been happening. Let us not allow senators and congressmen to craft laws that are immoral and that will kill,” he said.
“Let us tell them to answer the plea of the people who are seeking jobs, food, medicine,” said the bishop. “That is what they should focus on,” he added.
Bishop Pabillo lamented that the government is allegedly not addressing the health and economic issues being faced by the people.
“What is being pushed instead in Congress is death penalty,” he said, adding that many people continue to suffer, are sick, have no job, and hungry because “there is something wrong in governance.”
Highest number of cases in Southeast Asia
The Philippines’ Health department announced that the country’s total confirmed COVID-19 cases is nearing the 130,000-mark as 3,109 additional infected patients were reported on Sunday, August 9.
According to the department’s latest bulletin, 59,970 of the 129,913 cases are considered active cases, while recoveries surged to 67,673 after another 654 patients recovered.
At least 61 new deaths due to the disease brought the total death toll to 2,270.
Most of the 3,109 newly-reported cases came from the national capital region at 1,700, followed by Laguna province (169), Cebu province (114), Rizal (98), and Cavite (93).
All these areas are currently under a “modified enhanced community quarantine” due to rising COVID-19 cases.
The Health department said most of the cases, at 91.2 percent, remain mild while 7.5 percent are asymptomatic. At least 0.7 percent are severe cases, while 0.6 percent are in critical condition.
Last week, the country, which has the strictest lockdown in Southeast Asia, overtook Indonesia to become the region’s biggest outbreak.
The Philippines re-opened the country after almost three months of lockdown and allowed people to return to offices, resulting in the surge of infections by 500 percent in over two months.
Health experts said the government loosened restrictions too soon, without ensuring that local officials could trace and treat infections.
“When we realized it, the cases were too enormous for us to control and at a time when we are short on budget,” said Doctor Anthony Leachon, former adviser in the government’s coronavirus task force.
